Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on Thursday the seizure of two foreign vessels carrying smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf near Farsi Island.
According to statements from the IRGC-linked news agency, the operation resulted in the confiscation of more than one million liters of smuggled diesel fuel. Fifteen foreign crew members aboard the vessels were detained and referred to judicial authorities for further investigation.
The seizures took place in Iranian territorial waters close to Farsi Island, a strategic location in the northern Persian Gulf where the IRGC maintains a significant naval presence. The vessels were described as part of an organized fuel smuggling network operating in the region.
Fuel smuggling has long been a persistent issue for Iran, where heavily subsidized domestic fuel prices create strong incentives for illegal export to neighboring countries with higher market rates. The IRGC Navy regularly conducts patrols and operations aimed at intercepting such activities, reporting multiple seizures of smuggled fuel cargoes each year.
This incident comes amid ongoing maritime security concerns in the Persian Gulf, a critical waterway for global oil transport. While the IRGC characterized the operation as a routine enforcement action against smuggling, the detention of foreign crew members could potentially draw diplomatic attention depending on their nationalities, which have not yet been publicly disclosed.
No immediate statements have been issued by foreign governments regarding the detained crew or the seized vessels. The tankers have been towed to Iranian ports for further legal proceedings.
